For a Specialized Post Office Service
Page 51
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
'ONE of those Government departments which make considerable use .of all types of commercial Motor vehicle, is the stores section of the Post Office, and this branch of a vitally important national organization has justacquired from the Albion Motor Car Co:, Ltd., .Seotstoun,-Ghtsgow, a fleet of 30-cwt. high-speed •vans, one of them being shown in an accompanying illustration. This type of vehicle is used for light telephone wiring work, and it provides seating accommodation for six men, in addition to the driver. The vehicle is, we understand, designed primarily for work in rural areas, and its capacity is such that sufficient small StON,S for three days' work can be carried.
The tools and stores forming part of the equipment are accommodated in the lockers in the sides of the vehicle, whilst the heavier equipment is carried in the interior. In order that light poles may 'be accommodated a trap door has been provided at the front so that the heads 'of the' poles can project over the roof of the driver's cab, whilst the rear ends tsx.tend beyond the end of the vehicle. The butt-ends of the poles rest on a
roller at the back of the lorry while loading is in progress.
When the heads of the poles have been Pushed through to the 'extent required, the rear ends are lifted and placed on the iron gate at the rear, thus enabling the tailboard to be closed. A small bench is fitted behind the back of the cab, to which a vice can be fixed, whilst it also serves as a writing ,deskfor the foreman in charge of the workmen.
Facilities are provided for paying out wire from drums, which are carried in movable brackets located at the rear of the vehicle. The primary purpose of this type of vehicle is to relieve the men of the need for pushing handcarts over long distances, but it will be understood that considerable time is also saved in moving the gang from one job to another.
The lights at the sides of the vehicle are glazed with Celastoid, in order to minimize the risk of fire. The interior of the vehicle can be used by the men at meal times, thus affording them protection during inclement weather. The body of the type of vehicle we have briefly described was constructed by W. EL Perry, Ltd., Bollards Lane Finchley, London, N.12.
The other picture which we publish is of one of the Post Office 2-ton subsidy models, which has a body similar to that which we have mentioned.